PM warns pro-Palestine protesters not to disrupt Remembrance weekend — as he orders police to be vigilant
RISHI Sunak warned pro-Palestine protesters against disrupting Remembrance weekend — as he ordered police to crack down on any signs of trouble.
The Prime Minister insisted events next weekend must be protected, saying organising a protest march was “provocative and disrespectful”.
Fears have been raised that tens of thousands of marchers calling for a Gaza ceasefire could disrupt Armistice Day commemorations for the fallen heroes.
A two-minute silence will be held at 11am next Saturday along with the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, which is attended by senior members of the Royal Family.
Mr Sunak has called on the Home Secretary Suella Braverman to give the police all the resources they need — which could even include using powers to have the protests banned.
The PM said: “There is a clear and present risk that the Cenotaph and other war memorials could be desecrated, something that would be an affront to the British public and the values we stand for.
“The right to remember, in peace and dignity, those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for those freedoms must be protected.
“I have asked the Home Secretary to support the Met Police in doing everything necessary to protect the sanctity of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.”
He also wrote to Met Police boss Sir Mark Rowley saying the force had powers to stop disruption to Remembrance events.
He spelled out how Public Order laws meant he could apply to the Home Secretary and London Mayor Sadiq Khan to get protests banned.
Mr Sunak said that the Met chief would have the Government’s “full support” in making use of all his powers to protect commemorations next weekend.
New laws also mean police can tackle protest tactics such as slow walking and people locking themselves to buildings and highways.
In the letter, he said: “Remembrance weekend is a moment of national significance.
“It is a weekend where the nation comes together to pay tribute to the fallen and veterans, to honour their sacrifice for our freedoms, and to resolve that those sacrifices will never be in vain.
“It will be especially poignant this year, as we are once again reminded of the horrors of conflict and the need to continually defend our values.
“I am deeply concerned that a number of protests are currently planned to disrupt those acts of Remembrance next weekend.”
The Home Secretary last night added: “I agree with the Prime Minister.
“It is entirely unacceptable to desecrate Armistice Day with a hate march through London.
“If it goes ahead there is an obvious risk of serious public disorder, violence and damage as well as giving offence to millions of decent British people.”
Shadow Security Minister Dan Jarvis also said any protests must not take place near Remembrance Sunday services, including the wreath-laying at the Cenotaph.
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat has also written to the London Mayor, Westminster Council and Scotland Yard asking them to look at the powers available to them.
He told the BBC yesterday that next weekend was not the “appropriate moment for a protest”.
But Mr Khan accused him of “posturing”.
He added: “If this security minister knew his brief, he would know the only person in the country that can ban marches is the Home Secretary — his colleague in Cabinet.”
There will be a “significant” security operation in place to avoid Palestinian demonstrators disrupting Armistice Day, the Met Police say.
The force yesterday met organisers of a pro-Palestine group which plans to hold a “million march”.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign event, taking place in central London, has sparked fears it could disrupt Saturday’s two-minute silence being held at the Cenotaph at 11am.
But Commander Karen Findlay tried to reassure the public the march would not interfere with those paying respects.
She said: “We are really aware of the reports about potential disruptions.
“What I will emphasise is we have already been in positive dialogue with PSC.
“We will meet again on Monday.
“They have already expressed they have no intention to disrupt remembrance events and are working with us to establish a route which will not factor within the events.”
She added: “There will be a significant security and policing operations in place.”
March organisers want Israel to declare a ceasefire in its war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.